Peach blossoms and bee visitations herald the arrival of Spring, the absolute wonder of fragrance and color bursting out of sleeping trees now awake with new growth and the spark of ineffable Life. And I hear that trillions of cicadas will be gracing parts of the country for their amazing 17-year cycle. Cicadas are not locusts and they do no harm. They are part of the miraculous cycle of beings who share the planet with us just as the planetary cycles share the cosmos with us. Being in the flow of natural cycles is well, natural! Being in awe, delight, and wonder is even better! I know I am.

On April 27th Pluto began its yearly 5-month retrograde cycle. What this means is that from our perspective here on planet Earth it appears that Pluto has reversed directions, way slowing down, focusing its profoundly transformational energy in just a few degrees of the sign it is transiting. This retrograde period Pluto will be moving from 26 back to 24 degrees Capricorn. If you have planets or points at those degrees you can expect deeper and more intense release and growth according to what is being hit and the aspect being formed (conjunction, trine, square, or opposition). The house that Pluto is transiting will show you the area of your life under construction, in major re-model mode. Not always comfortable, to say the least, but necessary for new growth. Knowing Pluto’s effects as it slows down and concentrates its energy helps you to engage in the process to be more involved in moving yourself to your next level of experience. Planetary influences are guideposts to your own evolution. Use them!

On May 1st Uranus conjoined the Sun. That was a huge whollop of break-out energy. You might have felt liberated from a challenging situation or relationship or you might have felt a whirlwind of chaos as the winds of changes blew and continue to blow fiercely around you. Where Uranus is transiting at 10 and 11 degrees Taurus in your chart is where the liberation/breakthrough/chaos is happening in your life.

Venus, Mars, and Jupiter are all shifting their expression this month. Venus enters Gemini on May 10. Venus in Gemini is like a butterfly in a flower garden. Woohoo! So many visits to make, so little time! Versatile, changeable, and endlessly chatty, learn how to work with Venus in Gemini at FEED YOUR VENUS.

Mars is transiting Cancer, softening the warrior with lunar influences. Mars in Cancer is the protector, emotionally sensitive (maybe a tad too much for some), tender in surprising ways, and fearless in taking action to nurture and provide care.

Jupiter, planet of expansion, takes a dip into mutable water sign Pisces on May 14. Jupiter will move to 2 degrees Pisces and then will move back into Aquarius on July 29 until the end of December, then flavoring 2022 with its magic. Relish the expansiveness, compassion, and unification that Jupiter in Pisces brings. What you dream, what you imagine, is the realm of focus. So dream big and vast and know your prayers are being heard. If your tendency is to escape into fantasy there may be a whole lot more of that as well.